1       Ed Maxstadt        IL           John Seipel         WI      33.51    $13,000 
2       Rick Nascak        MN           Joe Wilson          MN      28.63      7,500 
3       Mike Krinke        WI           Joe Minnema         WI      24.15      5,000 
4       Craig Anderson     MN           Eric Anderson       MN      23.29      3,500 
5       Dave Bjorkman      WI           Ken Bjorkman        WI      22.20      2,500 
6       Randy Stevens      MN           Rob Stevens         MN      22.18      1,500 
7       Patrick Jensen     WI           Richard Penkalski   WI      20.94      1,350 
8       Paul Read          IL           Sue Read            IL      20.71      1,250 
9       Joe Schilling      IL           Doug Wegner         IL      20.14      1,150 
10      Zach Boudreau      WI           Brad Kaczorowski    MN      20.00      1,000 
11      Rich Reis          WI           Steven Small        WI      19.67        900 
12      Patrick Byle       WI           Jim Schiefelbein    IL      19.16        900 
13      Patrick Neu        WI           Mike Schaefer       WI      18.98        900 
14      Chad Kinkade       IA           Tommy Skarlis       IA      18.28        900 
15*     Jeff Anderson      MN           Tim LaPlant         MN      17.97        900 
16      Glenn Farrell      IL           Dennis Robinson     WI      17.97        700 
17      Mark Keenan        WI           Tom Keenan          WI      17.91        700 
18      Eric Olson         MN           Jason Przekurat     WI      17.52        700 
19      Nick Johnson       WI           Dan Kern            WI      17.34        700 
20      Scott Allar        MN           Tom Diercks         WI      17.09        700 
21      Blake Rothgarn     MN           Brent Rothgarn      MN      16.66        500 
22      Jim Hughes         WI           Randy Rost          WI      16.51        500 
23      Tim Dick           MN           Dale Sogla          MN      16.39        500 
24      Carol Chenier      MI           Glenn Chenier       MI      16.33        500 
25      Mike Hendricks     WI           Bob Woodke          WI      16.21        500 
26      Vern Leitz, Jr.    MN           Glenn Rengo         MN      16.15        400 
27*     Neil Hammargren    IA           Doug Newhoff        IA      16.01        400 
28      Mike Bringedahl    MI           Tod Conner          MN      16.01        400 
29      Keith Carlson      MN           Curt Schrimpf       MN      15.98        400 
30      Mike Schaefer      WI           Jeff Valence        WI      15.63        400 
31      Jacob LaPine       WI           Jim LaPine          WI      15.51        350 
32      Jay Clarey         MN           Richard Cordie      MN      15.50        350 
33      Bob Bodin          MN           Scott Mann          MN      15.48        350 
34      Donald Olson       MN           Pete Semler         MN      15.46        350 
35      Cory Meincke       MN           Dan Siewert         MN      15.45        350

*Won Tie Breaker

                                                               CASH PAYOUT = $52,000

Big Fish Pot (Three daily prizes: $900; $800; $575)                            4,550

                                                         TOTAL CASH PAYOUT = $56,550

Mercury Outboards Big Fish Award - $1,000 Engine Rebate: 
Randy Stevens - 7.78 lbs.

Big Basket Awards: 
Day 1: Rick Nascak & Joe Wilson, 22.12 lbs., 
Goldeneye Panther Auxiliary Motor Lift (value $500)

Day 2: Ed Maxstadt & John Seipel, 20.91 lbs., 
Big Jon Manual Downriggers (value $500)

Stats 
Teams Entered: 200 
Fish Caught: 926 
Weight: 1,758.29 lbs.  

LAKE CITY, MINN. – Ed Maxstadt (Naperville, Ill.) and John Seipel (Pepin, Wis.), won the North American Fishing Club Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC) Team Walleye Tournament held September 18-19 on Lake Pepin (Mississippi River Pool 4) at Lake City, Minn.  The tourney was the final stop of the 1999 circuit season.

The winners weighed a MWC allowable ten fish limit of 33.51 lbs. and collected $13,000.  The top 35 teams shared a cash purse of $52,000.  An additional $4,550 was paid in Big Fish Pot prize money.

Maxstadt/Seipel were in ninth place after the first day of competition with 12.60 lbs.  They climbed into the winner’s circle with a final day’s catch of 20.91 lbs., which earned them the Big Basket Award and a pair of Big Jon downriggers valued at $500. They were also presented with framed prints of "Double or Nothing Walleyes," by the Wild Wings Art Gallery of Lake City.

According to Seipel, "We fished the Wisconsin Channel, using yellow-colored ¼ oz. jigs tipped with crawlers."

Maxstadt added, "We also used some chartreuse-colored #7 and #9 Shad Raps.  The fish really turned on for us today [Sun.]; we couldn’t be happier."

First day leaders with 22.12 lbs., were Rick Nascak and Joe Wilson of Winona, Minn., who won a Panther Auxiliary Motor Lift Big Basket Award valued at $500.  They finished second with 28.63 lbs., worth $7,500.  The pair fished down river in the Wilcox area using 1/8 to 3/8 oz. chartreuse- or orange-colored jigs and crawlers.

Third place finishers were Wisconsinites Mike Krinke (Manchester) and Joe Minnema (Markesan) with 24.15 lbs., earning $5,000.  Most of their fish came from the Dead Slew Lake area of the river with 3/8 oz. pink jigs and half a crawler.

Big fish honors, a $1,000 Mercury Outboards rebate certificate, and $900 from the Big Fish Pot, went to Randy Stevens (Rochester, Minn.) for his 7.78 lb. walleye.  He and son, Rob, also of Rochester, placed sixth, collecting $1,500.

A full 200 team field was challenged by unstable weather and low water conditions.  Still, 926 walleyes, weighing 1,758.29 lbs., were caught in the MWC catch and release format.

The MWC Conservation Fund, the only fund of its kind in professional angling, donated $2,000 to the Lake City area DNR fisheries office.  The grant will be used for an ongoing walleye enhancement program on pool 4 of the Mississippi River.  To date, the MWC Conservation Fund has donated over $203,000 to fishery related projects in states where MWC tournaments are held.

The tournament was also the finale for MWC Executive Director, Bob "Kaz" Kaczkowski and his wife Beverly, MWC Secretary, who guided the circuit from its beginning 15 years ago.  The couple was honored with awards, gifts and festivities by MWC anglers, sponsors and the community throughout the tournament weekend.

The 2000 MWC brochure, containing entry forms for next season’s tournaments, will be mailed to current MWC members this fall.  Brochures will also be available from Wildlife Forever (who is taking over the operation of the MWC from the Kaczkowskis), at 10365 W. 70^th St., Eden Prairie, MN 55344-9403, tel., 612-833-1522.

The MWC is a nonprofit corporation which conducts a series of professionally operated fishing tournaments at which family participation and conservation of fishery resources are stressed.  MWC sponsors are Berkley Trilene, Lindy Little Joe, Mercury Outboards, MotorGuide, North American Fishing Club/North American Fisherman, Quantum and Ranger Boats. Supporting sponsors: Big Jon, Inc. and Goldeneye Products, Inc.